BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. — A man is dead following an officer-involved shooting at the Boynton Beach Intracoastal Park & Clubhouse Saturday morning. The park was closed for much of the day as Boynton Beach police conducted an investigation.
The incident occurred after police responded to a domestic dispute at the 600 block of NE 20th Ln at around 10:45am. Authorities say a father called 9-1-1 to report his son, who was struggling with a mental health condition, possibly under the influence of drugs, and armed with a knife. According to the Boynton Beach Police Department (BBPD), officers located the son at Intracoastal Park reportedly holding a machete.
Boynton Beach Police Chief Joe DeGiulio explained, “during the encounter they had to discharge their firearm. Subsequently, after they immediately started life-saving measures.”
The man was transported to a nearby hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
Patty Tomasino, a resident who lives next to the park, says it took her by surprise. “Nobody likes to hear that there’s a shooting right next door to you. I mean it’s scary,” she said. While she and her husband Peter did not hear the gunshots, they were alerted by the sirens that followed. “You got to give it a little time to sink in and realize really what’s going on,” Patty Tomasino added.
Police say details as to exactly what happened moments before shots were fired are still under investigation.
Chief DeGiulio said, "based on the Boynton Beach Police Department’s policy, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigates all of our officer-involved shootings,” he said.
As part of standard protocol, the officers involved in the shooting have been placed on non-disciplinary administrative leave until the investigation is completed.
The name of the deceased man has not been released, as police are still working to notify his family.
